Doctorate Degree

Doctorate Degree - It seems that in the world of academia, there is no more prestigious symbol than that of the doctorate degree. The doctorate degree is the highest achievement in academia, and represents the culmination of years of research, study, and intellectual reflection. Holding a doctorate degree of any type puts the recipient on par with the university faculty under which he or she studied, and sometimes is even a demonstration of a person's complete expertise in a field. There are several different types of doctorate degrees, and an almost countless number of fields of study within which to receive one. Being the holder of a doctorate degree is not only an important symbol of academic achievement and knowledge, but possessing one can provide countless opportunities academically and professionally.

The research doctorate is a very common type of degree that can be earned at nearly every college and university, with the PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) being the most common kind of this degree. A research doctorate is bestowed upon a candidate that has contributed some measurable new information to a particular academic field, usually in the form of published research. A research doctorate usually takes 3-4 years to complete, though some subjects such as chemistry or physics can take as long as 7 years to earn a doctorate degree in. The doctorate is awarded when the candidate successfully submits and defends a dissertation to a specially selected academic committee, usually made up of suitable department members. In order to begin work toward a research doctorate, a candidate usually has to have earned his or her Master's degree in a related subject area. The research doctorate, though widely referred to as the PhD, has many equivalents. These include Doctor of Arts (DA), Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA), Doctor of Science (DS), Doctor of Theology (DT), and many countless others that are directly named for their respective subjects.

Another very common type of doctorate degree is the professional doctorate. The professional doctorate is known as a terminal degree, because it usually doesn't require continuous research in the specific field. Often, students who wish to go into professional degree programs must have earned at least a Bachelor's degree in order to qualify, as well as meet other academic requirements. Professional degrees include Dentistry, Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, and many others. These degrees often have several subjects within them that a professional student may concentrate on. Though not a research doctorate, the holder of a professional doctorate is considered equal to his or her research counterpart and is qualified to pursue a research and academic career line if he or she so chooses. When the holder of a professional degree decides to practice within his or her chosen field (such as medicine or law), the ability to do so most often requires appropriate licensing. Licensing is often given only after certain probation periods and/or testing within the field to prove competency. A professional doctorate is also often considered the moneymaking degree, because of the often high-paying and high profile positions that are attained with it.

Yet another type of doctorate degree is the honorary doctorate. This type of doctorate requires no formal research, study, or defense of a thesis paper. An honorary doctorate is awarded in the basis of a significant contribution to an academic field. This type of degree is not at all the same as other doctorate degrees, though it often carries with it a certain prestige, usually because of the contributions of the recipient. Often you see entertainers such as Bob Hope or Bill Cosby earn honorary doctorates, though the honorary degree is not limited to the discipline of acting or theater.

With the dedication and work of earning a doctorate degree comes the prestige and respect of a person's academic and professional peers. A doctorate degree symbolizes a commitment to a field, to its continual expansion and improvement. Conducting research in many specific fields provides opportunities for exciting new theories, groundbreaking technologies, and even cures for diseases and ailments. Without the holders of doctorate degrees, whose hunger for knowledge is a driving force in the academic world, we would not have experienced many of the advances and discoveries in science, math, art, history, language, culture, medicine, and technology that allow us to live the way we do today. A doctorate degree opens doors for not only its possessor, but also for the world at large.